Buffer for automobile doors



@ct. H 192 I 7 J. LEDWINKA BUFFER FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORS Original 1 Filed Dec.

INVENTOR.

I WIN r14.

' ATTORNEY 70:25PM Z50 BY 1/ NIT/v55 s. @mmn f Patented a. 11, 1927.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO EDWARD G.

BUDD MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COR- PORA'IION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

nurrnn non AUTOMOBILE noons.

Original application filed December 27, 1920, Serial No. 433,379. Divided and this application filed November 17, 1922.

My invention relates to improvements in buiiers for automobile doors. This application is a division of my pending application for automobile bodies and the method of making same, Serial No. 433,379, filed December 27, 1920.

One of the leading objects of my invention is to provide an improved means for preventing the rattling of the doors of an automobile body.

A further object of my invention is to provide a buffer construction for automobile doors which will absorb vibrations .both transversely and longitudinally of the body.

A further object of my invention is to provide a buffer construction for automobile doors which can be constructed very cheaply and mounted in place very quickly and easily.

Another object of my invention is to provide a buffer construction for automobile doors which is particularly suitable for mounting in a metal door post such as is used, for instance, in an automoblle body constructed entirely of metal. I

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies of construction and operation will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. In one nstance, I accomplish the objects of my ID- vention by the devices and means described in the following specification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out n the appended claims. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my 1nvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is an edge view of one of the door posts of an automobile body, showing the mounting of my improved butter therein. I

Fig. 2 is a similar view show ng a portion of the door post in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and

Fi 4 is a detail, sectional view taken on the line 4.-4 of Fig. 2.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section lines.

An automobile body is subject, in use, to

Serial No. 601,635.

many vibrations, which set up an-annoying rattle between the doors and the body unless some means are provided for prevent- 1ng 'the rattling of the doors. Buflers, or antr-rattllng devices, have been provided heretofore for automobile doors but, so far as I am aware, these anti-rattling devices have all been of such a character as to absorb only the vibrations, or movements of the door relative to the body, in directions longitudinally of the body and they have not been of such a nature as to prevent the rattllng caused by vibrations transversely as well as longitudinally of the body. It is the purpose of m present invention to provide a door bu er construction which will be more efiicient and satisfactory than prlor devices of this nature because it absorbs vibrations both transversely and 1ongitudinally of the bod and entirely prevents the rattling of tlie doors. In automobile body construction, it is customary to provide the door 50st which is engaged by the free edge of t e door, with an angular portion forming a stop shoulder which is engaged by a corresponding shoulder of the door. In carrying out the purposes of my invention, I propose to provide a resilient buifer member in the angular portion of the door post, so that a portion of this buiier 'member projects from the angular portion of the door post in position to be engaged by a surface on the door extendin transverse y with respect to the body an another surface on the door which extends longitudinally with respect to the body, with the result that movements of the door both longitudinally and transversely are cushioned and restrained by this bufier member. Inmounting the buiier member in a metal door post, I find it very convenient to form an opening in the angular portion of such metal door post and to mount the resilient buiier member in said opening. Suitable means may be provided for retaining the,

' a stop shoulder, 47. An opening, 159, is

- hind the angular formed in the angular door post, 46, and the resilient bufier member, 156, is inserted in this openin 159. The body portion of this buffer member ma .have any desired shape. In the example il ustrated I have shown. a

; cylindrical body portion and it maybe made of rubber, or other suitable resilient mate rial. Any suitable means may be provided for retaining this resilient bufler member, 156, in sition in the opening formed in the angu ar portion of the door post. In this particular instance, I accomplish it by providing the longitudinally-extending portions, 157, on the ends of the resilient bufi'er member, 156, which portions, 157, are inserted bertion of the door post, above and below t e opening, to retain the buffer member in place. The buffer member may be distorted so as to insert it in the opening and allow the'end portions to lodge behind the angular portion of the door post when the bufier member resumes its normal position. I have found it desirable to provide a seat against which the innerportion of the buffer member engages so as to provide a backing for the buffer member. For this purpose, I have provided, in the construction illustrated, a sheet metal member which is secured to the inner portion of the door post, 46, and has a convex seat, 155, behind the opening, 159, in position to be engaged by the cylindrical buffer member when it is inserted in position. v

In Fig. 4, he door is shown in dotted lines,

' in closed position, and it is to be noted that the resilient buffer member is somewhat compressed and distorted from its normal shape when the door is closed. The door, A, is provided with an edge flange, 10, and thefree edge of the door is offset to provide a stop shoulder corresponding with the stop shoulder, 47, of the door post. This stop shoulder on the door comprises the surface, 11, extend- 111g longitudinally with respect to the body and the surface, 12, which extends transversely with respect to the body. It will be observed that the resilient butter member, 156, projects from the. door post so as to engage both the surfaces 11 and 12, withthe result that a portion of the resilient buffor member is disposed between each of these surfaces and the door post. The result is that the bufier member acts to cushion vibratlons or relative movements of the door and body both transversely and longitudinally of the body. The result is that my improved bufier construction is particularly effective to prevent rattling of automobile doors, inasmuch as it absorbs vibrations in all directions. The construction is particularly simple, can be manufactured very cheaply and can be inserted in position in the door post very quickly and easily.

I am aware that the particular construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing is susceptible of considerablevariatmn, without departing from the spirit of my 1nvention, and, therefore, I desire to claim my invention broadly, as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automobile body, the combination of a metal door post having an integral por tion thereof of angular cross section to form a door stop, said angular portion having an opening formed therein, a seating member attached to the inner surface of said door post behind said opening, and a resilient buffer member disposed in said opening to protrude therethrough and seated against said seating member, said buffer member having longitudinally extending end portions lodged behind theanguI'ar-portion of said door post above and below said opening to retain the same in place.

2. In an automobile body, a metal door post having an integral portion thereof of angular cross section to form a door stop,

said angular portion having an opening therein adapted to receive a resilient bufler member, and a seating member fastened to the inner surface of said door stop behind said opening and forming a seat for the buffer member, said 'bufier member having end extensions to engage the inner surface of the post to retain the same in its seat.

3. In an automobile body, a door post having an angular portion forming a stop for the door and a buffer mounted in said angular portion to absorb vibrations both longitudinally and transversely of the body, said buffer having end extensions to engage the inner surface of said post to retain the same in place.

4. Means for preventing the rattling of automobile doors comprising a door post having an integral portion-thereof of angular cross section to form a door stop, said angular portion having an opening therein, and a resilient buffer member mounted to protrude through said opening, and having means at its ends to engage the inner surface of said post to retain the same in place. 5. Means for preventing the rattling of automobile doors comprising a door post having an angular portion forming a door stop cooperatingwith a corresponding angular portion on the door, said angular portion of the door post having an opening formed therein, a resilient bufier member mounted 1n sald opening and pro ect1ng 1n position to be engaged by the angular portion of said door, and having end extensions engaging with the interior surface of the post for retaining said bufl'er member in position.

6. In an automobile body, the combination of a metallic door post having a portion thereof of angular cross section to form a door stop,-said portion having an opening therein, a bufier retaining plate of convex positely extending portions of substantially triangular cross section positioned in oppositely disposed ends of said triangularly 20 shaped chamber.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA. 

